How to Write About Poker in Your College Admissions Essay
Poker is a card game that involves betting between two or more players. The aim of the game is to make a high-value hand using your own cards and the five community cards that are dealt to the table. The highest hand wins the pot – all of the money bet so far. The cards are arranged in a circle, called a “pot,” and bets are placed into it in a clockwise direction. Once the betting is complete, the player must either call, raise or fold.
There are many variations of the game, but all of them share some similarities. A standard pack of 52 cards is used, and the ranks are Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 with a spade, heart, club and diamond suit. Some games will use wild cards, called jokers, as well.
Each player begins the game with a fixed amount of money, known as chips, which they use to place bets on their hands. The dealer deals each player two cards, which are sometimes referred to as their “hole” cards. Then a fifth card is dealt, the “flop.” Each player must then attempt to make a poker hand using their own two cards and the flop.
The game continues in a clockwise fashion until all but one player folds, at which point the remaining player collects the pot without revealing their hand. If more than one player remains after the final betting round, a showdown occurs where the hands are revealed.
To make your poker story interesting, include details about the people involved. This can be anything from the way a player reaches for their drink to the byplay between players. You should also mention tells, or unconscious habits a player has that reveal information about their hand. These can be as simple as a finger in the mouth to conceal a smile, a glance at their chips or a hand over their eyes.
Poker is also a game of psychology and math, so you can write about it from an academic angle as well. Explain how the odds of making a certain hand change depending on the number of other players in the pot, for example. This information will help readers understand the math behind poker and will make your essay stand out from the competition.
To increase your chances of getting into a good school, consider writing about your experience playing poker in your application essay. This is a great way to show your interest in the subject matter, and it will also demonstrate that you are able to think critically about complex issues. Be sure to keep your essay focused on the topic of poker, though, and avoid writing about other subjects if possible. Otherwise, your essay will not be as effective. Good luck!